7 Tips From Lazy Mom That Work Wonders

Being a parent can be stressful at the best of times, but everything that comes along with modern life can easily pile on too much pressure. However, at times the best advice is from those that have found simple, practical ways to get around without making everything too complicated—enter the “lazy mom” guide.

But, of course, the word lazy does not mean to be confused! And none of these tips are about skipping out on your responsibilities—they all involve working smarter and not necessarily harder. Here are some of the things to know about a mom who does not care like other moms. “Lazy moms” know how to eliminate unnecessary steps and avoid everything but the most essential aspects, and they also find low-effort, high-impact ways to keep everyday family life flowing smoothly.

Potty Traning Tricks

Potty training takes time — do it gently, with love. Sit the potty in a familiar, open spot so that your child can see and easily approach it. Let curiosity run the show, not urgency or pressure.

Initially, enjoy small successes — potty seated. The outcome at first is not the biggest deal, but rather getting them accustomed to a potty then using it naturally.

Bring a beloved stuffed animal or toy along with you to help make the experience fun and to ease any jitters! You can create a lighthearted tale about a teddy bear who would rather stay dry or characters wearing their “big-kid” pants with pride. The potty should not be a scary thing a story-and-play approach helps get the excitement level going.

Your child will be interested in that over time, in a consistent, non-pressured manner. Don’t rush them; this will happen by itself, supported and assured that they are only taking steps in their own time.

Helping Your Child Build a Healthy Appetite

Forget about between-meal snacks—if your child is not eating during mealtime, he will be hungrier and more willing to sit down for a full meal instead. And be careful to avoid foods with artificial flavoring or flavor enhancers. Natural food can taste a bit bland once kids are used to those intense flavors.

Limit sweets, too. An occasional little something is fine, but too much can cause more nutritious choices to be less desirable. Instead, concentrate on getting your kid — any child, a lot of children — to move. Frequent walks and exercise increase their energy levels, thus stimulating a natural appetite.

And with these slight modifications, you will develop lasting healthy habits. For the two of you, it can be uncomplicated and fun to eat healthy and exercise!

Put your child to bed

Your child may have learned to cry before going to bed, associate sleep with punishment included into the schedules or routine and feel pressure that they should be sleeping at specific time. Instead of putting them to bed feeling soothed, these feelings can make bedtime stressful.

Below are some soothing strategies I have found effective from my experience in a kindergarten classroom:

Calming the Body Soothing: Sitting next to the child’s bed, I would place one hand on their thigh and my other arm on his shoulder, then gently sway them side to side. It relaxes their muscles and calms their nervous system to prepare them for sleep.

Breath Matching: Touching one hand on their body, I would match my breath with theirs and then decrease the rate of breathing. I would incorporate gentle rocking, and this combination of slow, deep breaths paired with gentle sway lulled many kiddos to sleep.

Weariness Storytime: I would read to them and sprinkle in soothing phrases such as “And then the bear laid down…” and tucked his eyes… and felt very warm. I would read slowly, with long pauses, and in a soothing voice, you could almost watch their breathing slow to be in sync with mine as they drifted off into sleep.

Well here we have these soothing techniques that, when done rightly, can make sleeping time as a relaxing ritual for kids, making them feel calm and prepared for sleep.

Manage your child’s temper tantrums

If a tantrum slips through the cracks regardless of your best effort, here’s what to do:

Change Your Kid’s Focus—Sometimes a different game or toy can change everything in no time;

Or perform a soothing ritual collaboratively. Families create their own rituals, such as a certain rhyme, a calming story, or perhaps even a little “magic” trick. While your child weeps, you could blow on their face lightly to speed up the drying process or give them a sniff of “magic water.”

If all else fails, maybe just allow them to vent? If you know that they are safe, stay close by and let them cry it out. Instead of punishing or isolating them, validate their feelings: “Sounds like you have a lot to cry about right now. And I will wait here until you are so we can go have a good time together.

These are not only emotional regulation strategies, but they allow for both of you to take a timeout.

Get your child used to sleeping alone

Establishing a visual reference for restful sleep can work wonders during bedtime. An old toy such as a soft stuffed animal or cozy blanket, give the child something to snuggle with while falling asleep which will provide comfort no matter where they are (home or away).

Instead of moving to a new bed all at once, do it in stages. Increase comfort with the new bed — if your child is used to sleeping with you. This will make the transition feel secure and familiar so that you can adjust as needed before falling asleep alone.

Personalize bedtime by allowing them to contribute their own touches so you can create excitement around it. Make the space inviting and theirs by picking up some new bedding together or decorating with glow in the dark stars, a nightlight and/or dream catcher.

All parents have a few tricks up their sleeves! If you have some wisdom to share on how to encourage sleep, poop or feed an unwilling eater, please leave a comment — we need your ideas!

Overcoming Picky Eating

Kids have a built-in mechanism when it comes to hunger, and food is something non-negotiable. A newborn would remind you—very loudly—if you “forgot” to skip their feeding in the middle of the night. That instinct stays with us throughout life, so be assured that your child knows how much and when to eat.

At the same time, provide colorful foods without forcing or persuading them. When hunger is combined with feel-good feelings, a better appetite follows. Furthermore, if you want to get your child interested in what they eat, simply involve them in meal prep — help them cook the food with you or let them pick ingredients for grocery shopping. When children are given the option to choose their own foods they are more likely to try something new — and it comes with less resistance as well! Kids (inherently) just want to see what the fuss is about.

If you find yourself wanting to persuade your child to eat “just a little bit more,” stop and ask yourself: Are you being influenced by bad habits? Or do you fear they might still be starving? It turns out kids listen to their bodies surprisingly well; they will eat if they are hungry.

Minimize Tantrums and Keep the Peace

Hide all the no-no items so tiny hands won’t get hurt! For redirection, use a fun distraction: a bright new toy, a balloon, and even bubbles in a portable bottle for when you are on the go. For something that really is out of bounds, say scissors, consider giving them sanctity and letting them explore it with you as a witness. When kids face too many “no’s,” they can grow frustrated, so supervised exploration that is safe has them happy and curious.

Here’s another one: the trick, “Yes, but…” For example, if your child wants to play, then try it like this: “Yes, okay, daughter, let us play, but we have to take a nap first. You’ve identified what’s important to them, and you’ve put a plan in place.

When it’s time to break away from play for a meal, make the switch entertaining. Propose that they feed a toy first: “Uh Oh! It looks like the construction crew is ready for their lunch break!” This helps to change the focus without the fight.

Places to offer choices: “Are we going for the cars or the toy soldiers? Remember, they will figure this little trick out and start to make their own choices as they grow.

However, I hope you are able to use these tips! Spread the knowledge to new mothers, especially ones that may feel defeated. Sometimes spoiling their children by over-caring is also a concern. Thank you!